Audiobook Recommendations

Tags

Adventure, aliens, angels, archeology, audiobooks, druid, Elizabeth Hunter, fantasy, first contact, gothic, Grace Draven, historical, horror, Jennifer Foehner Wells, Jodi Taylor, Juliet Marillier, Kevin Hearne, Lindsay Buroker, magic, military scifi, mystery, romance, Sandra Hill, scifi, series, Steampunk, Tanya Huff, time travel, urban fantasy, vampires, vikings, Viola Carr, werewolves

Assuming I kept an accurate record, I listened to 40 audiobooks in 2017.  Most of them were pretty good.  A few, not so good.  I rarely review audiobooks, so today, I will let you know which ones I would recommend.  Without reservation!  That means the story is really good and the narration is just as good.

I’ll start with Jodi Taylor’s Chronicles of St. Mary’s.  In a previous post, I ranted and raved about this series and it is one of those that holds up very well beyond book 3.  In 2017, I listened to narrator Zara Ramm bring these 5 books to life:
A Symphony of Echoes, #2
When a Child is Born, #2.5
A Second Chance, #3
Roman Holiday, #3.5
A Trail Through Time, #4
In addition, the author narrated #0.5, The Very First Damned Thing.  #0.5. 2.5 and 3.5 were all free on Audible, so if they still are, now is as good a time to check them out! I have already purchased a couple more and they are in the queue.

Beneath the Waning Moon is a 2-book anthology by authors Elizabeth Hunter and one of my favorites – Grace Draven. Included are A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter and Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven. Both were beautiful gothic romances! I also listened to the marvelous Eidolon, Wraith Kings #2 by Grace Draven. Both of these books were charmingly narrated by Gabrielle Baker.

For SciFi books, Tanya Huff’s Confederation series is one of my favorites. Maguerite Gavin is a skilled narrator. I listened to 4 in this series and have another one in the queue.
The Heart of Valor, #3
Valor’s Trial, #4
The Truth of Valor, #5
An Ancient Peace, #6 (also Peacekeeper #1)

I got a great deal by downloading the 3-in-1 book Forgotten Ages by Lindsay Buroker. From there it was a simple matter to get the Whispersync audiobook 3-in-1. I discovered this author this year and I am quite sure there will be more Lindsay Buroker in my future. Forgotten Ages was narrated by a favorite narrator, Tavia Gilbert. This compendium included:
Encrypted (novel)
Enigma (short story)
Decrypted (novel)

Viola Carr knows her way around some steampunk/horror/fantasy and her stories are well narrated by Beverly A. Crick. The Electric Empire is 3 books long. I listened to the first 2 on audiobook this year:
The Diabolical Miss Hyde, #1 
The Devious Dr. Jekyll, #2
After listening to these two books, I finished by the series off by reading The Dastardly Miss Lizzie.

For SciFi fans, I highly recommend Jennifer Foehner Wells’ Confluence series. This first contact and beyond series is insightful and hopeful with that streak of realism that makes us realize space is not a friendly place. Susanna Burney is the narrator of book 1 and she is joined by Mark Linden in book 2. I am currently reading book 3, Inheritance, so I am definitely committed to the series.
Fluency, #1
Remanance, #2

One of my favorite finds of the year is Juliet Marillier’s Blackthorn & Grimm series. Like the 2-names-separated-by-an-ampersand series title suggests, there are mysteries to be solved. They are solved with logic, determination and so much heart. These are amazing characters. The use of three different narrators to represent different points of view was very much appreciated.
Dreamer’s Pool, #1
Natalie Gold, Nick Sullivan Narrators, Scott Aiello
Tower of Thorns, #2
Natalie Gold, Nick Sullivan Narrators, Susannah Jones
Book 3, Den of Wolves, is in my queue. I love this series so much!

For a good laugh, Sandra Hill is a great author. She writes a Viking/Vampire/Angel series called Deadly Angels that makes me laugh out loud. This year, I listened to Kiss of Temptation, #3 narrated by Erin Bennett.

And finally, Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series. I am almost caught up, so I only have one to add to this list. Luke Daniels is one of the best narrators out there so I was please to listen to him read Staked, #8.

That is it for my favorite audiobook listens for 2017. In most cases, I bought the Kindle book and then added the Whispersync audiobook. It seems to be the most economic for me. For that reason, all the book cover and title links will link to the Kindle version. Whether you read these books, or listen to them, the are all great stories!

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A Mortal Indiscretion by Barbra Ross – Feature with Excerpt and Giveaway

Tags

Barbra E. Ross, book feature, excerpt, giveaway, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, vampires

About A Mortal Indiscretion

A man. A vampire. A love story….

One night changed everything for bachelor Justin Bertolli. A womanizer at heart, never quite ready to settle down, he meets the woman who would change his life forever. Ambra Taylor is that woman, but is she all that Justin bargained for? Told from a male protagonist point of view, A Mortal Indiscretion delivers wholly unique narratives that don’t succumb to the same old recycled concepts. Everything unravels in Justin’s world. Although Ambra is a vampire, she is the vulnerable one of the two characters, providing a refreshing twist on standard tales. She is not waiting for her prince to come save her on his white horse. She simply desires love, to feel human love again and will do anything to protect the love of Justin. When Justin discovers the truth about who and what she is, will he still love her? Will he still want her? Find out, as their hearts collide in this epic tale of love.

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense, Vampire Romance
Date of Publication: 4/27/16
Number of pages: 632 pages
Word Count: 259981
Cover Artist: ProEbook Covers

Excerpt from A Mortal Indiscretion

Chapter 7

“Why did you not give her a chance? Then maybe you would be…”

“She isn’t you. No one makes me feel like you do. No one,” I said and she looked over at me.

“You still believe that? After all I have put you through? After all I have done?”

“Yes. I believe it. I know it.”

“But you must realize, that I am not what you thought I was. Don’t you?”

“Yes. I know that.”

“But, I do not understand. Does it not upset you?” she asked.

“Yes. It upsets me. But you owe me the truth, and you are going to tell me the truth now, right? No more lies?”

“Yes Justin. And then, maybe you will go running to that girl. Maybe you should go after her right now. There may still be a chance.”

“No. I don’t run away. That is your thing.”

She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, naked. She turned her back to me. I looked at her back, so sexy. Shoulders strong and defined. She had her arms across her chest. She knew I was going to ask the questions. I think she was mentally preparing herself for the blows.

“Go ahead Justin. Ask.”

“First of all… You’re not gonna tell me that you have to work in the morning, are you? Because I ain’t falling for that shit anymore,” I said. It just slipped out of my mouth. Like I didn’t have a filter between my brain in my mouth.

“No. I suppose you would not.” She turned to look at me.

“And you are staying here with me, right? I am going to have the pleasure of your company during the day? Right?” I pressed, as I felt my anger rising.

“Yes, I will stay. But I cannot go out with you during the day. You will have to keep the shades drawn. It is just not that simple to explain.” She kept her head down as she spoke these words.

“Fine. I can handle that. Tell me, what exactly would happen if I did open the shades Ambra?”

“I would burn up and die,” she stated, flatly.

“What are you Ambra? Are you ready to tell me to my face now?” I was insistent. “Because I really need to know.”

“I am…” She started and then, she became silent again.

“Say it, dammit! I want to hear you say it to me,” I was really getting pissed.

“I am a monster,” she whispered.

“What? What kind of monster? You tell me God dammit!” I yelled.

“A vampire,” she said it so quietly, keeping her back to me.

“You turn around and say it to my face. You have kept this from me for so long. I want you to look me in the eye! I deserve it!” I grabbed her shoulders as I yelled at her. She turned to me, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“Justin, I am a vampire.”

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Links

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Purchase A Mortal Indiscretion:

Amazon         Createspace

Book Trailer:

About the Author

Barbra E Ross lives in Michigan. She is a nurse by day and a writer of fiction at night.

Website: http://www.barbraeross.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbraERoss/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1223154.Barbra_E_Ross
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbraeross
Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1223154.Barbra_E_Ross/blog

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Giveaway

$25 dollar gift card and a signed copy of A Mortal Indiscretion

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sabrina and the Gargoyle by Marie Dry – Review

Tags

4 stars, gargoyles, Marie Dry, paranormal romance, vampires, werewolves

Review by Riley

About Sabrina and the Gargoyle

Sabrina married Mark after only knowing him for two weeks. Although he’s the man of her dreams, the man she loves more than life itself, she’s started getting strange vibes from him. Sometimes, she could swear he moves faster than the human eye can follow, and she’s sure she’s seen him change into something with wings. Could he be a vampire? A gargoyle? She tries to tell herself she’s being ridiculous, that those things don’t really exist. But when a strange being bursts through her bedroom window and kidnaps her, Sabrina is forced to admit the truth—not only are the creatures from her nightmares real, her own husband is one of them, and he married her for reasons other than love…

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Review of Sabrina and the Gargoyle

I think my husband is a vampire and the question becomes, will he suck my blood or am I delusional and soon to be taken away by the men in white coats.

This sets the tone for the first part of the book. Husband Mark is a mystery and not at all forthcoming. Sabrina loves him anyway, but wavers between loving him and not wanting to have anything to do with the lying, cheating bastard. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure what to make of her. I want to think that she is strong, as eventually evidenced by her ability stand against certain psychic forces, but she is constantly giving into a hero that, like I said, seems to be a lying, cheating bastard.

Mark denies cheating. Note, I do not say that he denies lying. He changes the subject a lot. So there are all sorts of clues that he is not what he seems to be. This is intriguing and, at the same time, frustrating, both for Sabrina and for the reader.

Sabrina and the Gargoyle is chock full of supernatural creatures – vampires, gargoyles, and werewolves. There are witches and a wolf/dog that seems to understand everything Sabrina says when she is talking to herself – out loud. But there is something bigger and badder than all these creatures and all the big bad supernaturals seem to fear the drogge. So they unite, in a manner, to combat the drogge. The thing is, the goodness or evilness of those supernatural creatures is not exactly evident. At least not all the time. So there is a lot of I-don’t-trust-you-but-I-need-you.

Sabrina, though merely human, has a role in this fight too. She is just not aware that she is involved. Which takes us back to Mark. Who withholds a lot of facts. More frustration for Sabrina.

By the way, Sabrina swears in Klingon. Respect. I am not a swearer myself, but I admire the Sabrina’s creative use of an alien tongue, to get around a grandmother who did not liking swearing. Grandmother may be gone, but the Klingon swearing continues.

Occasionally, there is what I would call an information dump. It shows up in dialog, as if to quickly inform the reader or anyone else in the dark (Sabrina) of what is going one. It feels forced and without background. As the first book in a new series, I thought maybe it was a way to introduce all the key players and elements. And there are a lot of them.

One of the aspects of Sabrina and the Gargoyle that I truly enjoyed was the setting. While some authors/publishers would minimize the local references and vernacular in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, Ms. Dry has included plenty of local color, thereby appealing to the intelligence of her readers. Capetown, South Africa is the setting. And speaking of local color, I was enchanted with the description of Sabrina’s house:

The house was painted turquoise with the shutters a beautiful purple to compliment the roof, the circular stairs in front a bright pink.

This prompted me to look up Bo Kaap, the richly colored Cape Town neighborhood that Sabrina calls home. In this story, there was also quite a few South Africanisms, including discussions of food. I don’t read a lot of stories with this same setting, so I found it fun and fascinating!

Sabrina and the Gargoyle has all the elements you look for in a paranormal romance. Romance (odd as it is), paranormal creatures, good guys and bad guys, and ultimately – a great face down between the evil bad and the heroine and the hero.

The author provided a copy of her book so I could bring you this honest review.

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Links

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Purchase Sabrina and the Gargoyle:

Black Opal Books          Amazon